Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
anastomosis
Pronunciation: uh-nas-tuh-MOH-sis
Surgical connection between two structures, particularly bowel segments following tumor resection.
Full Definition
An anastomosis is a surgically created connection between two tubular structures, most commonly segments of bowel after tumor resection. In oncology contexts, anastomosis frequently appears in operative reports describing colorectal cancer surgery, esophageal resections, and gastric procedures. The integrity of the anastomosis is critical for patient recovery, and anastomotic leaks represent serious complications. The term may be modified by approach (hand-sewn versus stapled) or configuration (end-to-end, side-to-side).
Usage
Usage note: Plural is 'anastomoses' - commonly misspelled in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The colorectal anastomosis was performed using a circular stapler technique." — Operative report
- "Post-operative imaging revealed no evidence of anastomotic leak." — Radiology report
Also known as
surgical connection
bowel anastomosis
Contrasted with
disconnection
division
Don't confuse with
adhesion
stricture